Improvement in indioatob foe



J. G. POTTER.

INDICATOR FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

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Patented Mar. 3, 1868.

z'ezfay cat-r- .o.1 -0TTEB, OF, ALFRED, NEW YORK.

Letters Patent No. 75,194ydated Mani; 3, 1868.. v

IMPROVEMENT IN INDICATOR PORK NITTI NG-MAGHINE tilt: fictrtuIi-refemt toin this: fitters hated me mzrlring'pnrt at th. same.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, J; (i- POTTER, of Alfred, in the county ofAllegheny, and in the State of New York,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indexes for Knittig-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon. I

In the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, A representsone end of a Lamb, or other similarly-constructed knitting-machine, towhich I secure a. device for indicating, when the machine is inoperation, the number of rounds in a stocking or mitten, or anyparticular portion of. either.

This device is constructed andepcrated'as' follows: E represents ashaft, which is placed in avertical position at one end of the maehine,with its lower end resting in a bearing in a clamp, B, and its upper endhavin shearing in an adjustable diaLpIate, F. This shaft is providedupon itsiupper end, above the dial-plate, with a, finger-nut, O, and apointer or finger, J, and near its lower end with a ratcheti-wheel, H,and a gear-wheeLG; Thmshaft runs-through the centre-of both theratchet-wheel and the gear-wheel, the former' being made fast to saidshaft, while the lntteris loose upon it. A paw], 'J,-whi ch is pivotedtothe upperface of thewheel .G, has

one end pressed into the teeth of the ratchet-wheel H by'means ofaspring, By'thia arrangementvthe wheel G'is made fast to the shaft, whensaid shaft revolves inone direction, but is loose-upon it when itrevolves in the other. The teeth of the wheelG engage in thethreads of ascrew-thread upon a horizontal shaft, 0, by means of which motion iscommunicated .to said wheel. The crank-handle d), which drives theelide-frame of the machine, is secured at one end to the shaft 0, andgives motion to it. The shafLQ revolves with the crank D. When the shaft0 revolves it causes the wheel G- to'revolve, and with it theratchet-wheelH and the shaft E. The dial-plate 'F is provided upon itsupper face with suitable notches and figures.

When the shaft C makes one revolution, the-wheel G'moves one tooth,which moves the shaft E, so that the finger L moves, one notch on thedial-plate, and as each revolution of'the crank D-eausesthe machine tolrni-t one round, it will be seen that the finger L always indicatesupon the dial-plate the number of rounds" which have been made in thework-upon the machine.

This indicator is very important, as it teaches or tells-the operatorwhen the work should be narrowed or widened.

The dial-plate is secured by a set-screw, whichpasses through a slot inthe plate to the upper lace of one end of the bed-plate of the machine.-The clampB is secured to the extension of the bed-plate, through whicha set-screw passes to secure it to the table upon which the machine isplaced. This clamp B is provided of course with a set-screw, forsecuring it .to the machine. Byrmeans of the plate F and the clamp Btheshaft E is held in a true vertical position, so that the wheel G willalways gear trnly'with'the thread on shaft C.

This-device for indicating thcrounds, being-made fast to and forming apart of the knitting-machine, cannot readily get out of order orbecomederanged in its movement. 3

t will readily he seen that, afterthe operator has 'made a specifiednumber of rounds upon his work, and then wishes to return thefingcrJagainwto its starting-point, he has merely to take the nut 0between his fingers and turn the shaftE forward'nntil the finger is atthe right points, He then commences to work and 'count anew.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The arrangement of the. shaft E with the gear-wheel'G, ratchct-wheelH, finger-L, and dial-plate F, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

2. The combination, with the needlesupporting bed and the shaft 0, ofaknitting-machine, provided with a screw of the clamp B, shaft E,gear-wheel G, fingcr-L,'adjustable dial-plate F, all arranged andoperating as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto' se-t my hand,this 4th day of, January, 1868.

' J. 0. POTTER.

Witnesses:

CI M, Ammonia, J. M. Meson.

